The dining table fell into silence, or rather, the entire Cloud Peak Restaurant froze in an instant, except for the still melodious and moving music playing in the background.
Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren, the fraternal twins, immediately turned their heads toward their "wolf in sheep's clothing" father, Xiao Guanyun. Their expressions remained unchanged, but their eyes had already killed their father a thousand times over.
Scumbag! How dare you betray Mom! You're dead!!
Lei Ting, the bodyguard standing behind Zhuge Rui, couldn't help but feel tense, wondering how this family would choose.
Xiao Guanyun remained calm and composed, his gaze gentle. He ignored the accusatory looks from his children as if the matter had nothing to do with him. Instead, he slightly turned his head to look at his wife, who was as beautiful as the moon goddess.
Shen Zhaoyue, as the person involved, was the calmest of all. Her temperament was as cool and distant as the moon, and under the lights of Cloud Peak Restaurant, her face seemed to glow with a soft, ethereal radiance, adding a touch of hazy beauty. Her elegant and distant eyes softened as she looked at Zhuge Rui.
"Ms. Zhuge, I believe you can ask the person involved directly. Xiao Guanyun and I are already divorced. I'm sure you've investigated this—he is free. If the two of you can find happiness together, I would naturally be happy for you."
Her words were dignified and proper, and even her voice carried a gentle elegance, completely unlike her demeanor at home. Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren immediately exchanged glances, realizing that today's "feast at Hongmen" had likely been planned by their parents.
"Divorce doesn't mean you can't remarry," Zhuge Rui said, her gaze lingering on Shen Zhaoyue's face with admiration and appreciation. She was, after all, someone who valued appearances, and seeing that all four members of this family were to her liking, her tone unconsciously softened.
"Mr. Xiao, I apologize for investigating your marital relationship with your wife. From the time you two married until now, fifteen years have passed, and you've divorced and remarried eight times. This divorce is the eighth. If I hadn't intervened, I imagine you would have remarried again, wouldn't you?"
…What kind of couple divorces and remarries eight times? The "Eight Divorces Family"?
Thinking of the pile of red and green certificates in the drawer at home, Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren had once struggled to understand their parents' mindset.
Shen Zhaoyue's gentle and beautiful face finally showed a hint of embarrassment, as if she were ashamed of having her family's private matters exposed. Her porcelain-like cheeks flushed slightly.
"I didn't mean to pry into your family's privacy. Ever since I met Mr. Xiao, I fell in love with him at first sight. We've gotten along quite well, and as it happens, I need a husband. That's why I took the liberty of inviting your family—to resolve this matter peacefully and amicably."
As Zhuge Rui spoke, her gaze fell on Xiao Guanyun's face. Meeting his gentle, watery eyes, she couldn't help but feel a woman's shyness. The reason she had arranged this banquet today was, of course, for Xiao Guanyun.
"…Then you could have just discussed it with Xiao Guanyun."
Shen Zhaoyue spoke softly, her voice low, as if she were somewhat saddened. Following Zhuge Rui's gaze, she looked at the "husband" beside her and lowered her eyes.
"Of course, I've discussed this matter with Mr. Xiao. But aside from being your former husband, the two of you grew up together in an orphanage, childhood sweethearts—you're both spouses and siblings. As your brother, he will always worry about you, his little sister, being wronged."
"In addition to the property and cash for you, Ms. Shen, I will also prepare a villa, a car, and ten million in startup funds for each of Changyan and Jiaren when they turn eighteen. If you encounter any difficulties in life, Ms. Shen, you can always come to me for help."
Zhuge Rui spoke with an air of absolute confidence, her wealth and extravagance practically overflowing, instantly capturing the attention of Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren. The two exchanged a knowing glance, both thinking of the bizarre red carpet and bodyguards at the school gate.
Aunt Zhuge, you're being a bit too extravagant…
They had thought their parents had somehow gotten involved with a wealthy woman, but now it seemed this wealthy woman was about to become their stepmother? Was their father marrying into a rich family?
Xiao Changyan glanced worriedly at his mother, afraid she might be upset, when suddenly a sharp pain shot through his leg. He looked down under the table to find his mother's hand pinching his thigh, while her other hand was doing the same to his father's leg.
The intense pain made Xiao Changyan clamp his mouth shut and grit his teeth. He exchanged a look with his father across their mother, seeing Xiao Guanyun still composed and calm, and couldn't help but give his dad a mental thumbs-up!
"…I—I need to think about it."
Shen Zhaoyue finally looked up, her clear eyes glistening with tears, her voice trembling slightly with a stubbornness born of being cornered.
Zhuge Rui was taken aback, not expecting the woman before her to be on the verge of tears despite her 'gentle' words. She always struggled with handling beautiful women and now looked pleadingly at Xiao Guanyun, silently urging him to comfort Shen Zhaoyue.
"Ayue, don't cry. Even though we can't be husband and wife, I will always be your brother, and in my heart, you are my only sister. I believe Zhuge is a good person, and she is willing to treat you like a sister too."
Xiao Guanyun picked up on the signal immediately, taking a tissue from the table and handing it over gently. His voice carried a hint of guilt, perfectly playing the role of a 'fickle' scoundrel.
Who would have guessed that his thigh was being twisted 360 degrees by Shen Zhaoyue, nearly making him jump up in pain!
"…Mm." Shen Zhaoyue took the tissue, wiping her tears with a sullen expression, like a pitiful child who had lost something dear. Her teary-eyed appearance even made Zhuge Rui's heart ache.
Shen Jiaren had been enjoying the spectacle, but seeing her mother cry, she was about to slam the table and stand up. However, her hand under the table was suddenly grabbed by her brother. She glared at him, only to see him signaling with his eyes.
Following his gaze, she saw her mother's hands under the tablecloth, each pinching her brother and father's thighs. Shen Jiaren immediately shot a sympathetic look at her brother.
On the table, Shen Zhaoyue wept pitifully; under the table, her hands had already left several red marks on her husband and son's legs.
Her mother only pinched others when she was excited, so Shen Jiaren finally relaxed.
The atmosphere in the restaurant still felt somewhat awkward. Even Zhuge Rui, who had handed over tissues, couldn't help but think that Shen Zhaoyue had a unique charm when she cried—a beauty's tears were still a sight to behold.
"Sister Zhaoyue, I'm not forcing you. Go back and think it over carefully. If what I'm offering isn't to your liking, you can make other requests. I can sign an agreement with you. Please, don't cry anymore—I'm helpless against a beauty like you."
Zhuge Rui didn't see Shen Zhaoyue as a rival. She had already learned about their situation from Xiao Guanyun: both were orphans who had supported each other and struggled their way up. Though they had a son and a daughter, over the years, their relationship had drifted apart, leaving only the bond of family.
If she could marry Xiao Guanyun, Zhuge Rui wouldn't mind treating Shen Zhaoyue like a younger sister.
Shen Zhaoyue, who had been comforted, finally smiled through her tears. Her face was so stunning that Zhuge Rui was momentarily captivated. Eventually, she instructed the waiter to serve the dishes promptly. The table laden with exquisite delicacies finally broke the strange tension.
Everyone ate in silence, though it didn't feel like a first meeting at all. Zhuge Rui chatted animatedly, recommending dishes, while the Xiao family obediently followed her suggestions, eating whatever she recommended. This greatly satisfied Zhuge Rui's desire for control.
The meal ended in a calm yet peculiar manner. Zhuge Rui even arranged a car to send the family of four off.
Inside the spacious Maybach, the family sat in silence. The driver navigated smoothly, and half an hour later, they arrived at Zhonghai Ziyu Mansion in Jinghai City. The car drove straight into the underground garage, and the bodyguard acting as the driver even thoughtfully escorted them upstairs.
He also brought up the gifts Zhuge Rui had prepared in the trunk.
The moment the bodyguard left, the room fell silent again. The coffee table in the living room was piled high with luxury shopping bags, covering its entire surface.
Xiao Guanyun looked at his wife, Shen Zhaoyue.
Shen Zhaoyue looked at her husband, Xiao Guanyun.
Xiao Changyan and Shen Jiaren exchanged glances, unable to tell whether their parents were happy or upset. They didn't dare speak. But the next second, Shen Zhaoyue lunged toward Xiao Guanyun.
As if by muscle memory, Xiao Guanyun wrapped his arms around Shen Zhaoyue's waist, lifted her off the ground, and spun her around in a wide circle. Xiao Changyan was so startled that he pulled his sister behind him, watching their parents gleefully spinning around, utterly bewildered.
Both he and his sister were top students, unable to comprehend the logic of their less academically inclined parents.
"Husband, husband, husband! We're finally rich!!! You've finally caught the eye of a wealthy woman!!! Wait—no! From now on, I won't call you husband anymore! Xiao Guanyun! You're about to make it big!!!"
Shen Zhaoyue had completely shed her ethereal, moon-goddess demeanor from earlier. Now, her mouth was running a mile a minute. If she hadn't been wearing an evening gown, she probably would have wrapped her legs around Xiao Guanyun's waist and let him carry her.
"Of course! I always said this face of mine wasn't meant to go to waste. Back in the day, my looks were a bit of a disadvantage—people didn't appreciate this type back then. But now that I'm middle-aged, it's finally paying off. Heaven hasn't let me down!"
Holding Shen Zhaoyue, Xiao Guanyun had also abandoned his refined and graceful demeanor from earlier, replaced by a mix of smugness and narcissism. He wore an expression that screamed, "I'm the most handsome man in the world."
"Don't worry, I won't treat you poorly. Once I marry into a wealthy family and establish myself firmly, I'll introduce you right away so you can find a rich husband too. Then our couple will dominate the high society together! We'll reach the peak of life with our looks!!"
Finally putting Shen Zhaoyue down, Xiao Guanyun made another vow, insisting that she must 'share prosperity' with Shen Zhaoyue—both of them would marry into wealthy families!!
"That's right! Once we marry into wealthy families, Changyan and Jiaren won't have to be separated in two different schools anymore. Our children have been so worried about us, even enduring separation for the sake of scholarships. It truly pains me. Once you marry Aunt Zhuge first, won't Changyan and Jiaren be spared the suffering of long-distance separation?"
Shen Zhaoyue immediately nodded, fully immersed in the act, looking at Xiao Guanyun with a moved expression. Then she brought up their children, filled with heartache, making Xiao Guanyun nod emphatically as well.
"Right! It's all because we, as parents, were too useless before. Once I marry into a wealthy family, Changyan and Jiaren will never have to suffer the pain of long-distance separation again…"
The couple had already become so carried away by their emotions that Shen Jiaren couldn't help rolling her eyes beside them. She interrupted her parents' mutual admiration with a cool, sarcastic remark.
"Mom, Dad, 'bone and flesh separation' usually refers to family members being scattered and unable to reunite. Although my older brother and I don't attend the same high school, we commute every day and eat dinner at the same table every night. It's hardly a long-distance separation, is it?"
Xiao Changyan also sneered, following his sister's lead as he looked at their self-indulgent parents.
"Alright, tell us. What's the deal with this Aunt Zhuge today? Is this divorce for real? Are you two not planning to remarry?"
Author's Note:
New story comments will receive red envelopes! See you all tomorrow! Hope you enjoy this drama-loving family~